African Village
Featuring world music from the African continent and African-inspired music in London. Artists include Bassekou Kouyate, Mali's multi-award winning ngoni maestro, Emmanual Jal, Sudanese child soldier turned rap star and Massukos from Mozambique who will be pour their musical sunshine into the 21st Century African mix.
For running times see the programme
Hosts/continuity DJ’s
Karengera Eric Soul
Rwandan by birth, now a Londoner, he's notorious for filling dancefloors with heaving, delirious crowds. Check his wild Afrogroov and Components nights for ruff tuff afromix Karengera style.
DJ Edu
Kenyan born Londoner DJ Edu presents DestiNation Africa on BBC Radio1Xtra- a mix of the hottest underground sounds out of Africa, from hip hop and RnB to dancehall, garage and drum’n’bass
Mashasha
Best known as Harare’s most in-demand session bassist,
Mashasha was first "discovered" as a teenager by his neighbour Oliver Mutukudzi, and has since played with the cream of nuskool Zimbabwean artists including Chiwoniso Maraire and Busi Ncube. Currently based in Manchester, Mashasha performs today as a unique duo with percussionist, Ali Nourbakhsh.
Grupo Lokito
Cuban taught pianist, Sara McGuiness, and Congolese singer José Hendrix Ndelo head this exuberant fusion of Congolese and Latin rhythms, with Eugene Makuta on vocals, Limousine on lead guitar and Mara on drums (all from Congo) plus Colombian timbalero Roberto Pla, master percussionist Oli Savill and bassist Elpidio Caicedo.
Yaaba Funk
This addictive celebration of the sounds of 1970's Ghanaian Hi-Life, flavoured with ‘afro-broken beat’ and funk features eight core members who paid their dues in traditional African groups like Adzido, Fri ti-ti and Jeli masa, Trinidadian avant garde funk poet Anthony Joseph’s Spasm Band and psychedelic Nigerian sounds of Eardrum
More information on Yaaba Funk
Massukos
A joyous, irresistible blend of traditional sounds, Massukos’ brand of musical sunshine is considered a national treasure in Mozambique. Renowned both for their stunning music and the humanitarian work that they do, their music delivers life-saving messages about hygiene, sanitation and HIV/AIDS. Their music can transform, communicate, heal and educate.
Tata Din Din Jobarteh and Circus Afrika Afrika Band
Earlier this year, Afrika! Afrika! filled London’s O2 with over 100 African artists, eccentrics, acrobats, dancers, singers and musicians to make it the hottest ticket in town. Now Gambian kora jali Tata Din Din Jobarteh brings the sensational Afrika Afrika house band to fire-up the Rise Festival.
Emmanuel Jal
This Sudanese child-soldier-turned-rapper, with one of the most extraordinary life-stories you'll ever hear, tells it like it is/was on ‘Warchild’, his new radically conscious hip-hop album, mixed by Grammy winner Neal Pogue (Outkast, Talib Kweli, Stevie Wonder, TLC). A major documentary about his life, is currently wowing the global film festival circuit.
BiggaFish presents Routes to Roots
BiggaFish aim to enable young people’s creative expression, artistic excellence and social inclusion. Routes to Roots is a cultural collaboration between some of the most talented young artists from the UK’s urban music scene, and gifted musicians and rappers from Morocco, Ghana, South Africa, The Gambia and host country, Mali. Onstage you’ll see Ghana’s leading HipLife stars Tinny and Tic Tac making it happen with London’s finest: Kele Le Roc, Bashy, Durrty Goodz, Lady Likez, Silvastone and Ignorants.
Bassekou Kouyate and Ngoni ba
Bassekou Kouyate has been acclaimed as Mali's latest superstar. He is a virtuoso on the ngoni, an ancient West African lute, and has played with Malian master musicians like Toumani Diabate and Ali Farka Toure. With his own band, Ngoni ba, his wild and inspiring music rocks, though it is based on traditional roots. Sensationally they swept the board at the BBC Radio3 Awards for World Music 2008, winning the Africa and the Album of the Year Categories.
